James Will, the city's director of parks and recreation, discusses a forthcoming masterplan with members of the public services committee Coun. Kris Samraj (centre) and chair, Coun. Julie Friesen, on Monday afternoon at city hall.--News photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
A city hall report that will guide a plan on whether to maintain existing rec facilities or build new multi-use and multiplex facilities will be brought to council next month, but won’t be acted upon until after the election, city administrators say.
As well, they told Monday’s final meeting of the public services committee this term, that any final decision for major capital projects might be years away.
Division managing director Brian Mastel said the resulting plan will likely incorporate three potential routes, namely keeping some facilities closed, renovating others and planning for new facilities.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that the community wants a voice in these decisions and that it’s not simply a business decision,” said parks director James Will, who has said $42 million in maintenance costs may be needed by 2050 on the current fleet of pools, gyms and arenas. “If people want these facilities, there is a cost … There’s a large capital decision, so we’ve decided to ask what is the right direction.”
Committee chair, Coun. Julie Friesen, said, “We’ve heard very strongly from Hatters, and we are really listening to that feedback.”
The issue has become a topic on the election trail, with incumbent mayor Ted Clugston borrowing heavily from early reports on a campaign plank to add a outdoor pool in the south end while pushing for a multiplex skating facility in the north.
Opponent Alan Rose likened building new just to avoid maintenance to a homeowner in need of a new furnace “tearing down the house and moving.”
Another challenger, Linnsie Clark, has called for long-term costing, arguing that better accounting for maintenance is the more prudent route.
Incumbent councillor and candidate Brian Varga attended Monday’s meeting and called for officials to provide the estimates for each option.
The issue, posed as aligning parks planning with a more regionally focused municipal development plan, has also garnered a variety of opinion in the council race, with many arguing the need for more efficient spending or the need to support mature neighbourhoods.
Coun. Kris Samraj, who is not seeking re-election, said the issue is difficult as the city faces financial challenges, and already more ice time, more pools, more park space, and more trailway than similar communities.
“The answer from the public sounds like they want more,” he said. “It’s going to be hard to reconcile.”
Late last year, budget officials said they would keep the Crestwood Recreation Centre, the Moose Recreation Centre arena and the Heights outdoor pool closed in 2021 to help with major budget cuts, but also because demand hadn’t returned from when pandemic restrictions closed most facilities.
At that point council approved a motion from Friesen to embark on an overall review and update of the parks masterplan and recreation masterplans, combining the two 10-year-old guiding documents.
That work is “90 per cent complete,” said officials on Monday, who also said they are discussing facility needs with Redcliff and Cypress County (the three municipalities agreed to a collaboration framework in the fall of 2020).
Next month, a draft final report will be publicized for one last round of public comment and user group perusal. The 200-page report should be completed and presented to council by December.
